Roving Rav takes voting on the road

For the first time, an orange voting bin will be taken around the Grey District in a Roving Rav car, a move to get more people voting.

Voting papers will be in the post early next week, and can be mailed back, with a reply-paid envelope included.

This year, people can also drop them off at one of four orange bins located at Woolworths, the Greymouth Library, the Westland Recreation Centre and the main Council offices from September 9.

Deputy Electoral Officer Catriona Bayliss said it was a good way of reminding people to vote – and have a say.

She will also be visiting outlying districts and smaller organisations starting the week of September 16, in her Roving Rav.

“We want to give everyone an opportunity to vote.”

People will also be able to enrol to vote if they see the Roving Rav parked near the roadside.

The Roving Rav schedule will be on the Grey District Council Facebook page and website shortly. If you would like the bin to stop near you, let us know by emailing elections@greydc.govt.nz

Candidate videos will also be posted on the council Facebook page and YouTube channel. Written profiles are already on our website.

Ballot papers are being mailed on Tuesday, September 9 and should start arriving from Wednesday, September 10.

The last local body election was in 2022, when the total return rate for the Grey District was 48.7%.

As of July 31, 2025, 14% of those eligible to vote had not yet registered.

There are two people standing for mayor and five people chasing three seats in the Central Ward. In the Southern Ward, there are four people vying for two seats.

Northern Ward – the wider Runanga area – sees Cr Kate Kennedy returned unopposed, and in the Eastern Ward – wider Stillwater, Grey Valley and Moana – Allan Gibson and Robert Mallinson were elected unopposed. People in those areas will get to vote for the mayoralty, Development West Coast, and the West Coast Regional Council.